Ceremony marks Veterans Day in Waterbury as state leaders honor Vt. service vets
Nov. 13, 2021 | By Lisa Scagliotti 
This Veterans Day on Thursday was marked in downtown Waterbury with a ceremony at the war memorials at Rusty Parker Park hosted by the Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post No. 59. About 40 people gathered for the event under sunny skies held at 11 a.m. in a nod to the historic ceasefire called on Nov. 11, 1918 marking the end to hostilities in World War I.
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Wayne Goulet, who serves as post commander, led the ceremony that included the legion’s color guard, a 12-gun volley, “Taps” played by Chris Wood on bugle, and a wreath laid at the monuments.
U.S. Army veteran, Vermont Army National Guard member and Waterbury Fire Chief Gary Dillon delivered remarks. Dillon spoke of the brother- and sisterhood of service veterans forged among those who rely on each other for their lives. He acknowledged the volunteer service of veterans from the Revolutionary War through World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“As a country, we owe a great country to our vets,” he said. “To the veterans who honorably served our nation with great distinction during war and peace we owe you our freedom. ...Thank you for all you did and your sacrifices for our country, our state and our way of life.”
Dillon took the opportunity to remind those gathered to look out for vets in the community. “Everyday there are anywhere from 17 to 22 veterans who take their own lives. Being a veteran is not easy. If you know of somebody who is having difficulty, reach out. Let them know there are resources for them. Let them know you are available,” Dillon said. “Maybe all it would take to save a life is to have a coffee and talk. Do something. Anything.”
Vermont leaders mark Veterans Day
Also on Veterans Day, other state leaders attended ceremonies and issued statements regarding honoring U.S. service veterans.
Gov. Phil Scott spoke at a ceremony in Colchester and issued the following statement:
“Today we pause to honor the brave men and women who served our state and nation in the Armed Services. Thousands of Vermonters have served our country over the course of American history, and too many never made it home.
“From the Green Mountain boys who joined the fight for independence; to a war that saved the Union, and two wars that would encircle the world; to Korea and Vietnam and the Middle East, and our F-16s defending the skies above Ground Zero on September 11, 2001; Vermonters have always answered our nation’s call.
“Their sense of duty, and sacrifice, is why it’s so important for us to take the time to not only thank our veterans, but to listen to their stories, as well. They are why we live in the greatest country on Earth, and we must always be grateful to those who made that possible.”
Lt. Gov. Molly Gray shared these remarks:
“On Veterans Day in Vermont, we honor the over 43,000 veterans who call our state home, as well as the millions more across the country who have served and sacrificed to protect our nation.
Vermont has a long history of military service, going as far back as the Green Mountain Boys’ participation in the American Revolution. Our brave servicemen and women have risked their lives to secure our freedoms in the line of duty, and it is our continued duty to ensure they receive the support and care they deserve.
Thank you to our veterans, their families and our future veterans – our active duty troops – for your commitment, your sacrifice, and your courage. We are forever indebted to your service.”
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Thursday issued this statement regarding Veterans Day:
“We owe our veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude, one which we will never truly be able to repay. As a longtime member and former chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I believe that on Veterans Day, and every day, we honor the extraordinary sacrifice and bravery of our nation’s veterans, and the families who stand by their side in service to our country.
“As we recognize, honor, and remember their service, we must, as a community, do more. We must commit ourselves to keeping America’s promise to our veterans and servicemembers, just as they kept their promise to us. That means making certain that veterans and their families get all the benefits they earned through their service, on time and without delay. That means ensuring access to the best quality health care this country can provide by protecting and strengthening the Department of Veterans Affairs. That means ensuring no veteran goes hungry or is forced to sleep on the streets. And it means ending injustice, including making sure those who served their country are not deported, as well as doing right by those exposed to toxic substances and with bad paper discharges.
“I believe that if someone takes an oath to serve their country, to go off to war, to risk their life or risk coming home wounded - in body or in spirit - then that government has a duty to make good on its commitment. I am honored to work every day to keep that promise to our veterans and their families.”
Vermont Congressman Peter Welch, and senior U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy appeared and spoke at a Veterans Day ceremony at Battery Park in Burlington on Thursday. The ceremony also marked the centennial anniversary of the Howard Plant Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 782 in Burlington, the state’s oldest VFW post.
Welch noted efforts by Vermont’s Congressional delegation to support federal legislation that expands access for veterans to housing and health care, especially to those suffering from illnesses linked to exposure to hazardous materials at burn pits used to incinerate waste at military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On social media, Leahy shared stories of Vermont veterans who were interviewed for the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. The project gathers stories of America’s veterans, including interviews, documents and photos. Each of the veterans featured in the project was interviewed by a volunteer, often a student. Visit the project’s website at loc.gov/vets/